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Mess of a policy

Clark budgets are hurting B.C. schools

BURNABY—“Who’s to blame for the mess in B.C. schools? (Hint: It’s not the hard-working custodians.)”

That’s the message of a new CUPE campaign identifying custodians as among the hardest hit workers during the BC Liberal reign of chronic underfunding for public education. The lack of support for public education has led to layoffs for many CUPE members, the service they provide lost to students.

Chronic underfunding has forced some districts to cut daytime custodian positions, leaving no janitors to clean up accidents, vomit or other messes. Increased and unrealistic workloads are causing injuries. Staff have been cut in most districts.

The campaign will direct criticism about cleanliness in schools where it belongs – to the lack of support for public education by Christy Clark and the BC Liberals – and will introduce custodians who talk about the effect of chronic underfunding in our schools.